Package for hosiery and other articles



Dec. 1, 1959 A. B. BARNHART PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1958 INVENTOR. ADAM BAKER BARNHAR'L 8ATTORNEY 1959 A. B. BARNHART PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1958 25 :l .lrallllfllltr nlilfl llin lIII/flirt!!! INVENTOR. ADAM' BAKER BARNHART lag-x1111 United StatesPatent PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND OTHER ARTICLES Adam Baker Barnhart, NewYork, N.Y., assignor to Metric Hosiery Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Application August 15, 1958, Serial No. 755,202

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-7) This invention relates generally to packagingdevices,

and more particularly has reference to means for packaging ladies hose,mens and childrens socks,.etc.

It .is important that articles of the type described be packaged asattractively'as possible, while awaiting sale,

since an attractive package serves to focus a customers attention on theproduct, and may produce an impulse to make a purchase when suchpurchase might in actuality not have been contemplated at all.

7 One important object of the present invention, in view 'of the above,is to provide a package for hosiery and like articles that will beattractive, and that will be especially designed for display in theestablishment selling the hosiery.

Another object is to provide an attractive package that will benevertheless designed to prevent crushing of the same, by reason of aparticular manner of bending or curving of selected portions of thepackage relative to adjacent, cooperating portions.

* Another object is to incorporate end pockets of elliptical shape inthe package, which will be crushprovide means on which a portion of thepackaged article may engage to further aid in holding said portion inproper position.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of v the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, *and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.In the accompanying drawings forming a material part bf this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a hosiery packaging device according tothe present invention, a pair of hose being shown properly supportedtherein, the device being removed from a container in which it wouldordinarily be sold.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view substantially on line22 of Fig. 1, the hosiery being removed, a container in which the devicewould ordinarily be merchandised being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the lower portion of thepackaging device, substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2. I f Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional view through the upper portion of. the device,substantially on line 44 of Fig; 2. i Fig. 5 is'a transverse sectionalview through the device, substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the blank used in forming the device.

Fig. 7 is a view like Fig. 1 showing a modified form, a pair ofchildrens socks being shown in dotted lines in properly supportedposition within the device.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shownin Figs. 1-6, the packaging device has been generally designated 10. Thepackaging device is in the form of a single piece of cardboard orsimilar inexpensive, foldable, stiff material. The packaging devicewould be folded to the position shown in Fig. 1, and in thesecircumstances, the device includes a flat,

stiff, rectangular backing panel'12 which is transversely curved as willbe clearly seen from any of Figs. 35.

The panel 12 at its opposite ends is integral with confronting,transversely extending retaining lips, which are adapted to engage theopposite ends of a folded pair of hose. The device would be used forholding ladies hosiery, mens socks, childrens socks, etc.

Furthermore, the hose H can be folded in any manner desired, it beingmainly important that the hose be kept in the desired, flattenedcondition, safe against damage, by reason of the hose being disposed inoverlying relation to the stiff back panel 12, said hose being held inplace by the confronting lips. v

' The back panel 12, as will be noted from Fig. 6, terminates at itsupper end at a fold line 14. This extends transversely of the device thefull distancebetween the opposite, parallel, straight longitudinal edges15 of the blank of fibrous material from which the device is formed. Asecond fold line 16 also extends transversely of the blank fully fromone to the other side edge 15. disposed in close proximity to the foldline 14.

The fold lines extend into full convergence at their corresponding,opposite extremities 18. Fold line 14 is continuously, gently curved, inone direction. Fold line 16 is correspondingly but oppositely curved.Therefore, the ends of the fold lines extend into convergence, with thefold lines being disposed their greatest distance apart medially betweenthe opposite side edges 15, said distance being progressively reduced ina direction from the midwidth point of the blank to the opposite sideedges thereof.

Between the fold line 16 and the adjacent end edge of the blank, thereis a transverse lip 211. The lip 20 may have an ornamentally shapedouter edge, as for example, a scalloped edge 22. Said ornamentation ofthe edge may vary according to the desires of the particularmanufacturen' In fact, the edge need not necessarily be ornamentallyformed.

Further, when the device is in use, the front surface of the devicewould be preferably imprinted or otherwise ornamented to increase theattractiveness of the package and as shown in Fig. 1, advertisingmaterial, including the trademark and the other information as to thesize, color, etc., can be placed on the lip as shown at 23.

The fold lines 14, 16, as will be seen from Fig. 6, de fine between thema narrow, long, elliptical end wall 24 when the'blank is folded to theshape shown in Fig. I. Said end wall provides an abutment at one endofthe hosiery H, to hold the hosiery against slippage longitudinally ofthe device. The opposite curvature of the panel 12 and lip 20, resultingfrom folding of the blank along the oppositely bowed lines 14, 16, notonly serves to increase the stiffness of the back panel .12 and of thelip 20, but also serves to form a pocket for the hosiery. In otherwords, a pocket is defined between the lip This is I 20 and the backpanel by reason of the oppositely curved fold lines. Said pocket isprogressively reduced in width in a direction from the midwidth area tothe opposite side edges, so that any tendency of the hosiery to sliplaterally in one or the other direction is stopped before the hosierycan move fully to the adjacent side edge. The hosiery, in other words,wedges in the pposite sides of the pocket where the pocket taperssharply as the fold lines converge.

It is desired that a suspending tongue or tab be formed upon the blankat the upper end thereof. By reason of said tongue, the entire packagecan be hung from a nail or, similar fastening element, upon a wall, orupon an advertising or merchandising display panel. To this end, .thereis provided a tab 28 of rectangular formation, defined by a .slit 26 ofU-shape. The opposite ends of the U-shaped slit terminate at the foldline 14. In tab 28, there .is a perforation 30 to receive a supportingnailor equialent device not shown.

The tab is foldable along a line 32 which is the intermediate portion ofthe fold line 14. When the blank is folded as in Fig. l, the tab isfolded upwardly, and may project upwardly through a cellophane bag B(Fig. 2) in which the packaging device is placed together with thehosiery H.

The bag B can be formed of a suitable plastic material, such aspolyethylene, and if desired, the bag can be semipermanent, that is, itcould have a zipper type closure or the like, so as to be capable ofbeing retained by the ultimate purchaser with a view to maintaining acontainer in which the hosiery can be kept or packedfor travel, etc.

Oflcourse, while the device is. awaiting sale, the tab 28 would projectupwardly out of the bag, but the bag would be tightly sealed thereaboutto prevent the admission of dirt or other foreign material.

Referring again to Fig. 6; adjacent the lower edge '33 of the blankthere are oppositely bowed folded lines '34, 36 similar to the lines 14,16. These extend into convergence at their opposite ends as shown at 38,40, at the intersection of the fold lines with the side edges 15. Whenthe blank is folded at its lower end, there is thus produced a lower endabutment 42 of narrowly elliptical shape, defining a stop for thehosiery at the lower end of the device. A lip 44 is also produced byfolding the blank, in confronting relation to the lip 20. Lip 44 couldbe imprinted with suitable advertising legends, size information, etc.There is thusprovided a lower pocket 45 for the hose, cooperating withthe upper pocket, which has been designated at'47 in Fig. 4.

Both pockets serve to prevent lateral slippage of the hose, and retainthe folded pair of hose properly in the package, in a centered,attractive position.

Reference should now be had to Figs. 7-9, which show a slightmodification of the device. The device in this form is generallydesignated 10 It is formed from a blank, the outer configuration ofwhich is the same as that shown in Fig. 6. There is therefore arectangular back panel 12 which would be transversely curved when theblank is folded. There are also upper and lower, transverse retaininglips 20, 44 A tab 28 is also provided, and in these respects, the formof the invention shown in Figs. 7-9 is completely identical to the firstform.

This form may be used to particular advantage in holdinga pair ofchildrens socks S having the folded cuff C. In this form of theinvention, the cuff may quite possibly extend upwardly into the upperpocket. The lower ends of the socks, that is, the toeportionsthereof,would extend into the lower pocket which haszbeen generally designated45 m Fig. 7.

This form of the invention includes additional tab means for locking thelips against the backpaneladjacent the opposite side edges 15 of theback panel. There isthus no possibility of the pockets opening at theiropposite sides. This provides even more insurance against lateralslippage of the socks or hosiery.

The means employed for closing and locking the upper pocket at theopposite sides thereof further serves to engage in the cuff C to holdthe sock in proper position upon the back panel. In this connection,there are provided elongated, straight slits 50 adjacent the oppositeside-edges 15 Said slits define the outer edges of looking tabs 48having their lengths extended parallel to said side edges 15*. Thedistal ends of the locking tabs 43 project through small transverselocking slits 52 formed in the lip 20*.

The inner side edges 53 of the elongated locking tabs extend to the topedge of a centrally disposed, cuffengaging, wide ear or tab 46. This isdisposed midway between the locking tabs 48. Tab 46 is formed withangular recesses 47 at its opposite sides, to facilitate properengagement of the cuff.

Tab 46 and tabs 48 are an integral piece of material, struck directlyout of the material of the back panel 12 as clearly seen in Fig. 8.Thus, when the blank is folded, the locking tabs can be extended throughthe slits 52 and the tab 46 can be pressed forwardly out of the materialof the backing panel. The socks may be slipped into the upper pocket andengaged over the tab 46.

There are lower locking tabs, also. Slits 54 are formed in the lip 44,receiving the free ends of lower locking tabs 56 which serve to lock thelower pocket 45 at its opposite sides.

In both forms of the invention, there is the common characteristicwherein the device can be readily folded from a single piece ofmaterial. As distinguished from previous packaging devices of agenerally similar nature, the device is transversely curved. Thisincreases the stiffness of the material, so that there is no tendency ofthe same to flex, or at least said tendency is considerably reduced. Thearrangement, in fact, may permit a thinner type of fibrous stock to beemployed, without sacrificing stiffness. This would represent aconsiderable saving in merchandising and manufacturing costs.

Further, the device has pockets which taper toward their opposite sides,to cause the socks or hosiery towedge in the pockets, and thus be heldagainst lateral slippage. Still further, an attractive packaging meansis provided, having ample room for advertising material and otheressential information. Yet, the device can be readily suspended from anadjacent support, can be completely or almost completely enclosed in aplastic bag, and can be packaged in a substantially completely flattenedcondition with other, similar packages.

In the second form of the invention, further, there is means forsupportably engaging under the cufi? of a pair of socks, said means atthe same time serving to lock the upper pocket at its opposite sidesagainst accidental opening. The lower pocket is similarly locked bymeans struck directly out of the back panel.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made, within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A hosiery package comprising a rectangular-shaped panel arcuate incross section, said panel terminating at both ends in walls ellipticalin plan, each end wall terminating in inwardly extending lips dependingfrom the outer peripheries of the end walls, said lips and paneldefining end pockets with tapering sides for preventing shifting ofarticles contained in the pockets, said lips having slits adjacent thesides thereof, and elongated tabs'out struck from the panel andinterlocked with the edgesof said slits for preventing shifting of anarticle supported in the pockets.

2. A hosiery package comprising a rectangular-shaped panel arcuate incross section, said panel terminating at both ends in walls ellipticalin plan, each end wall terrni- 'nating in inwardly extending lipsdepending from the outer peripheries of the end walls, said lips andpanel de fining end pockets with tapering sides for preventing shiftingof articles contained in the pockets, said lips having slits adjacentthe sides thereof, and elongated tabs out struck from the panel andinterlocked with the edges of said slits for preventing shifting of anarticle supported in the pockets, and a perforated supporting taboutstruck from the material of the panel and projecting outwardly of oneend thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,940,078 Cooper Dec. 19, 1933 1,957,248 Crawford May 1, 1934 1,959,665Gallinger May 22, 1934 1,974,038 Baxter Sept. 18, 1934 2,804,258 PetterAug. 27, 1957 2,833,399 Hartman May 6, 1958

